The commission met Thursday to discuss several issues that could impact the casino licensure process across the state. While commissioners delayed a potential decision to alter the timelines in southeastern and western Massachusetts, they modified investment requirements in the southeast and extended arbitration deadlines in Greater Boston.

Minimum investment

The Gaming Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to alter the $500 million minimum capital investment requirement for a casino in southeastern Massachusetts, or Region C. The move allows applicants to count certain on- and off-site infrastructure costs as part of the $500 million investment.

Massachusetts Gaming & Entertainment, an affiliate of Rush Street Gaming, had requested such a waiver. Bridgewater town officials have said the developer is working to reach a partnership with Bridgewater-based Claremont Companies.

Commissioner Enrique Zuniga presented an analysis showing less market potential in Region C due to a number of factors, including demographics, geography, out-of-state competition and the prospect of a Mashpee Wampanoag tribal casino in Taunton.

“The region that would have the most difficulty meeting the minimum capital investment would be Region C," he said. “Compared to the other regions, Region C has less potential.”

Zuniga expressed concerns that due to market limitations and risks within Region C, “setting the bar as high as we have” could scare investors away.

Commissioners Gayle Cameron and James McHugh argued against changing the investment requirement.

A potential ballot question

The commission will take more time to decide whether to alter the targeted June date to formally award a casino license in western Massachusetts.

MGM Springfield, the lone remaining applicant in that region, asked the commission to delay the formal award of a casino license until the fate of a potential ballot initiative to repeal the expanded gambling law is decided. MGM Springfield president Michael Mathis requested that official licensure be delayed until either the Supreme Judicial Court decides the question can’t appear on the ballot, or voters defeat the potential referendum. He suggested the commission could award a provisional license in the meantime.

Once being formally awarded a license, MGM would face approximately $200 million in financial obligations, including a nonrefundable $85 million deposit to the Gaming Commission.

“We’re ready to go the minute it is final and behind us,” Mathis said.

Page 2 of 2 - The SJC is expected to hear arguments next month and may decide by July whether the initiative could qualify for the ballot.

Repeal the Casino Deal chairman John Ribeiro issued a statement later in the day saying the ballot campaign is gaining momentum.

“The $85 million application fee isn’t much to a company which earned nearly $1 billion off the backs of its customers last year, but it is telling that our grassroots movement has made them blink about this bad bet,” Ribeiro said in a statement.

Region C timeline

The Gaming Commission said Thursday that it plans to revisit the Region C timeline at a May 1 meeting, when it is also scheduled to take up the city of Boston’s request for host community status for the Mohegan Sun casino proposal in Revere and the proposed Wynn casino in Everett. The panel previously voted on April 3 to push back the second-phase casino license application deadline for Region C from July 31 to at least Sept. 23.

The city of New Bedford and KG Urban, an applicant that hopes to build in that city, have requested a deadline extension. Fall River, which is working to strike a casino deal with Foxwoods, opposes altering the timeline.

There is uncertainty in the Region C market due to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s pursuit of a casino in Taunton. The tribe, working through a separate federal process, is awaiting a decision from the Department of Interior on whether it meets the requirements to acquire sovereign land.

The tribe has a compact with Massachusetts that would see the state collect 17 percent of tribal casino revenue, but that share would drop to zero if a commercial casino were approved in Region C.

Gerry Tuoti is the Regional Newsbank Editor for GateHouse Media New England. Email him at gtuoti@tauntongazette.com or call him at 508-967-3137.